Grandfather Zitembe is the head priest of the Temple of Savras in Port Nyanzaru. Savras is a deity of wizards, fortune tellers, diviners, and truth-speakers, whose symbol is a monstrous eye or crystal ball filled with eyes. The temple is one of the oldest and grandest buildings in the city, with a tiled roof resembling an unblinking eye.
Role in the Adventure
Zitembe is one of only three creatures in the adventure who knows that the death curse originates in Omu (the others being Valindra Shadowmantle and Saja N’baza). He can provide crucial information to guide the characters toward their ultimate destination.
Personality and Methods
Zitembe is lawful good and dedicated to his deity’s principle of revealing truth. When first encountered, he demonstrates moral integrity by refusing to help three Zhentarim assassins who offer him a 500 gp ruby to locate Artus Cimber, sensing their evil intentions and shooing them away. The characters’ timely arrival during this confrontation makes him predisposed to help them.
Providing Information
When approached about the Soulmonger, Zitembe initially expresses disbelief that the death curse has anything to do with Chult. However, if the characters present a compelling argument or donate at least 25 gp to the church, he agrees to “consult the guides.”
This divination ritual takes 24 hours, during which Zitembe receives visions of:
- A jungle city far to the south, enclosed by cliffs and crawling with snakes
- A black obelisk draped in vines
He dares not peer any deeper into the visions, but urges the characters to seek out this city and the obelisk—crucial clues pointing them toward Omu.
Connection to Side Quests
Zitembe oversees Inete, an acolyte of Savras who has disturbing visions of red-robed wizards operating in the Aldani Basin. Though he has too many concerns to investigate himself, he gives Inete permission to explore the matter, potentially involving the characters in this side quest.